2022 elections

[Vrede too]

I've never voted in any primary.

In 3 of the races listed on page 6 the GQP primary is the election, more if one counts de facto GQP posts.

[neoplacebo]

I've never voted in any primary.

In 3 of the races listed on page 6 the GQP primary is the election, more if one counts de facto GQP posts.

I don't doubt that. I've just never been that interested in politics to get involved in the primary process.

[O Really]

I'm not as cynical as former poster Bungalow Bill used to be, but in fact in most elections an individual's vote really doesn't matter. No more than a few "fraudulent" votes cast or stolen matter much in the end. There are some close ones, however, that every vote does matter. I'd have felt pretty bad to have sat out the 2016 Presidential election in places like PA, MI, or even FL.

[Vrede too]

I'm not as cynical as former poster Bungalow Bill used to be, but in fact in most elections an individual's vote really doesn't matter. No more than a few "fraudulent" votes cast or stolen matter much in the end. There are some close ones, however, that every vote does matter. I'd have felt pretty bad to have sat out the 2016 Presidential election in places like PA, MI, or even FL.

It's more than just an individual's vote. Our choices to vote or not affect others through our words and actions. That multiplier effect definitely impacts close elections.

[neoplacebo]

If the congressional districts in every state were more rationally determined, like by the entire county or number of counties that add up to the approximate population allotted each district (some districts may consist of only one county; others may consist of two or three) so that a true system in which every vote is truly equal, I might take more of an interest in primary races. The way it is now, like O Really noted, dilutes or even negates many votes.

[O Really]

... definitely impacts close elections.

Close ones, yep.

[Vrede too]

... definitely impacts close elections.

Close ones, yep.

We've all been surprised by elections whose outcomes were supposedly known beforehand. MadCaw's 2020 primary victory is one example.

[GoCubsGo]

Early returns have MadCaw down 38%-28%.

[GoCubsGo]

CNN live reporting from Hendersonville!

[O Really]

If MadCaw loses, we can thank Vrede for using his tournament picking skills to vote for him.

[Vrede too]

Early returns have MadCaw down 38%-28%.

Now 35-31, 28% of Precincts Reported.
https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=05/17 ... ntest=2120

Edit, 2119 EDT: Oooh, 34-32 Edwards, 44% Reported. My people are coming through.
Edit, 2215 EDT: 33-32 Edwards, 85% Reported. We may not know tonight.

If MadCaw loses, we can thank Vrede for using his tournament picking skills to vote for him.

, but I didn't predict that my strategy would be successful.

Jasmine Beach-Ferrara (D) has 60.54% in NC11.

Cheri Beasley (D) has 82.09% for US Senate . She didn't need my help.
Trumpette Ted Budd (R) has 58.02% for US Senate. It'll suck if he wins in Nov, but it's excellent to see former Gov Pat McCrory get stomped.

[GoCubsGo]

MadCaw concedes!

A little sanity prevails.

A small nightmare ends. Larger nightmares are still with us.

Toodles!

[Vrede too]

MadCaw concedes!

A little sanity prevails.

A small nightmare ends. Larger nightmares are still with us.

Toodles!

Hardly. Edwards is certain to win in Nov, unlike MadCaw. He will be just as RW and more effective, while bringing less shame to the GQP . Interesting that nearly 1/3 of RepuQs here (and a few strategic lefties ) stuck with MadCaw.

[GoCubsGo]

MadCaw concedes!

A little sanity prevails.

A small nightmare ends. Larger nightmares are still with us.

Toodles!

Hardly. Edwards is certain to win in Nov, unlike MadCaw. He will be just as RW and more effective, while bringing less shame to the GQP . Interesting that nearly 1/3 of RepuQs here (and a few strategic lefties ) stuck with MadCaw.

Yeah, I'm a little mixed. Don't know much about the dem nominee, but it's a long shot even against Mad.

While Edwards will be RW, it's a tad encouraging that there's a little bit of sanity and Edwards is not a MAGA loon.

[O Really]

MadCaw concedes!

A little sanity prevails.

A small nightmare ends. Larger nightmares are still with us.

Toodles!

Hardly. Edwards is certain to win in Nov, unlike MadCaw. He will be just as RW and more effective, while bringing less shame to the GQP . Interesting that nearly 1/3 of RepuQs here (and a few strategic lefties ) stuck with MadCaw.

Did you see the County count? Buncombe, Henderson, and Transylvania (i.e., places where people who can read and have teeth live), voted for Edwards; the rest of the counties voted for MadCaw, despite it all. Despite that he's done nothing positive and created embarrassment, and despite that Edwards is equally right wing, there were still 30-something thousand people held their ballot and thought, "yeah, I think Madison should still be my Congressman." "Idiots" is not close to harsh enough.

[GoCubsGo]

MadCaw concedes!

A little sanity prevails.

A small nightmare ends. Larger nightmares are still with us.

Toodles!

Hardly. Edwards is certain to win in Nov, unlike MadCaw. He will be just as RW and more effective, while bringing less shame to the GQP . Interesting that nearly 1/3 of RepuQs here (and a few strategic lefties ) stuck with MadCaw.

Did you see the County count? Buncombe, Henderson, and Transylvania (i.e., places where people who can read and have teeth live), voted for Edwards; the rest of the counties voted for MadCaw, despite it all. Despite that he's done nothing positive and created embarrassment, and despite that Edwards is equally right wing, there were still 30-something thousand people held their ballot and thought, "yeah, I think Madison should still be my Congressman." "Idiots" is not close to harsh enough.

What amazed me is the tiny turnout.

https://er.ncsbe.gov/contest_details.ht ... st_id=2122

[Vrede too]

I was leaning towards grabbing a GQP ballot, then I saw the sample ballots for both parties and my inclination became certain. The Dems only have 2 primaries for me:

US House of Representatives District 11 - 6 person field, but Brown/Harvard gay minister and Buncombe County commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara has the money, the endorsements and the experience. I expect her to get the 30% needed to avoid a runoff, or to easily win any runoff.
https://victoryfund.org/candidate/jasmi ... h-ferrara/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Unit ... istrict_11
https://ballotpedia.org/Jasmine_Beach-Ferrara
Yep, 60%. I think she could have beaten MadCaw in Nov, but .

US Senate - 11 person field. I hope I don't regret not helping pick the best Dem, but my idea of best Dem and the best Dem to win NC can be very different, anyhow.
Cheri Beasley 81.13%, a predicted rout. Good luck in Nov, it would be a huge coup to steal the seat back.

Otoh, lots more GQP primaries and thus lots more opportunity to theoretically help Dems. There is a risk that I help the worst RepuQ get seated, though. In races the Dems aren't contesting I'm selecting the better Repub IMO.

US Senate (good riddance Richard Burr) - 14 person field. Trumpette Rep Ted Budd has a huge lead over former Gov Pat McCrory.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epoll ... -7546.html
Fine with me, McCrory would be harder to beat in Nov, and Budd won't be able to wash off the 45SHOLE stench. I think I'll vote for distant 3rd Mark Walker in order to make them both look weaker, but may end up voting for Budd.
Ted Budd 58.62%, as predicted.

US House of Representatives District 11 - MadCaw may be the only RepuQ that Beach-Ferrara or any Dem can beat here.
Too bad.

North Carolina Supreme Court
Seat 3 - neither RepuQ nor Dem has primary opposition.
Seat 5
Sam Ervin IV (D), incumbent, has no primary opposition.
RepuQs:
Victoria Prince is irrelevant.
April C. Wood is an Appeals Court Judge and a woman.
Trey Allen has a strong resume, but no judicial experience. He gets my vote in order to help out Sam Ervin.
Trey Allen 55.43%. I hope I guessed correctly that he'll be weaker in Nov. One flipped seat = RepuQ majority.

NC Court of Appeals Judge
Seat 8 - neither RepuQ nor Dem has primary opposition.
Seat 9
Brad Salmon (D), no primary opposition.
Republican Donna Stroud is the incumbent, so I'm voting for Beth Freshwater Smith in order to help out Brad Salmon.
Donna Stroud 59.29%. Oh well, it was a long shot.
Seat 10 - neither RepuQ nor Dem has primary opposition.
Seat 11
Darren Jackson (D) - incumbent, has no primary opposition.
RepuQs:
Michael Stading is a judge of the North Carolina 26th Judicial District.
I'm voting for Charlton L. Allen, who has no judicial experience in order to help out Darren Jackson.
Michael J. Stading 70.77%. Oh well, it was a long shot.

NC House of Representatives District 117:
Michael O'Shea (D) has no primary opposition. Any Dem is unlikely to win.
2 RepuQ women are running, both with significant community involvement. So, I'm voting for inept campaigner and wingnut Dennis Justice on the off chance that he wins and then flops in Nov.
Jennifer Capps Balkcom 42.53%, Chelsea Walsh 41.44%. Maybe I should have done more research into which would be easier to beat in Nov.

Races the Dems aren't contesting, so I'm voting for the Nov winner barring entry by petition:

29B Judicial District
Both awful. With no Dem running I'll choose the one that does not claim the RWNJ dog whistles - "conservative Christian", homeschooler. Voting for Jason R. Hayes.
Abe Hudson 51.33%.

42nd Prosecutorial District Attorney
Andrew Murray, incumbent, is a Dolt .45 appointee to be U.S. Attorney and he brags about his Dolt .45 connections. So, I'm voting for the former deputy prosecutor for 12 years in Hilo, Hawaii, Mary Hollocker. Maybe some of that aloha rubbed off on her.
Andrew Murray 63.12%. Oh well, it was a long shot.

Henderson County Board of Commissioners District 1
J. Michael Edney, incumbent, seems slightly more progressive on some issues and I don't have a good reason to replace a County Commissioner with a school board member.
J. Michael Edney 53.30%. A rare win for me, but nothing to get very excited about.

Yep, O Really, this is basically my sports track record.

[Vrede too]

What amazed me is the tiny turnout.

https://er.ncsbe.gov/contest_details.ht ... st_id=2122

I'm not finding a turnout figure for NC11, at your link or mine. HENDERSON County is 27.24%. Is that low for a primary?

[GoCubsGo]

What amazed me is the tiny turnout.

https://er.ncsbe.gov/contest_details.ht ... st_id=2122

I'm not finding a turnout figure for NC11, at your link or mine. HENDERSON County is 27.24%. Is that low for a primary?

Think that's pretty average.

I was just looking at the raw numbers for the surrounding counties.

[Vrede too]

Gonna be some hard feelings over the PA GQP Senate primary. Good.